Google “working on a fix” for long-standing Pixel 2 camera problem

Google has said it is working to address a Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL camera bug that has been with the phones since launch.

The “fatal camera error” message sometimes appears when the user launches the Pixel 2 camera app or tries to snap a picture.

Google made the comments on Twitter last weekend.

Google has acknowledged a camera issue that has affected Pixel 2 devices since launch. Responding to a question on Twitter last weekend, Google said it was aware of the “fatal camera error” bug and “working on a fix.”

Google’s tweets flew under our radar until folks on Reddit pointed them out yesterday. The issue, mentioned in our Pixel 2 problems article, sees the camera app sometimes crash when trying to open it or take a picture. For some people, clearing the camera app cache in the settings menu has been a temporary fix, while others have had to factory reset their device. The Pixel user chatting to Google on Twitter said neither solution had worked for them, however.

We’re sorry that the workaround didn’t help, Ciara. Our team is looking into this and are working on a fix. Appreciate your understanding.

The earliest complaints about this appeared online on November 2, a couple of weeks after the Pixel 2 was released on October 19. It has been reported on both the standard Pixel 2 and the larger Pixel 2 XL.

Pixel 2 owners still encountering the message will likely be pleased to hear Google is working to solve the problem, though some might still be asking why it is taking so long to address. We’re expecting the Pixel 3 to launch in the next three months or so — will it be fixed before the new model arrives? The jury’s still out, but we’ll let you know when we have more information.